Brian,

I moved from zone 4 to 6 to (now) 9. Let me share some thoughts. Yes, the plants are different and the 'full sun' is really unrelenting. But what is really different is the timetable for herbs and veges.

You have to have your young tomatoe plants in by March 1 - 15. They're 'done' by June 1 to June 15. Once temp does not go below 80 at nite, the blossoms won't set. In very hot springs, I shade plants with cheesecloth. Replant young tomatoe plants aroung Labor Day for harvest in late Oct /Nov.

I plant marigolds, pansies, snapdragons seeds around Sept 1 right in the beds for pretty flowers by late Oct through March. Most any zone 4 spring plant is a great late Oct to March plant in zone 9!

One other thing about zone 9. Everything grows - - bumper bug crops, mold, fungus, etc. There are things here that damage plants that I have never heard of before! Oh and the soil. In Houston area it really isn't soil - it's clay. We pulled out all the soil down 2 feet in every bed we made and hauled in good quality soil that we then filled in and built up to about two feet above ground level. The bottom of the beds were spread with about 6 - 12 " of small rock - covered with sand, then quality soil with lots of sand mixed in. Drainage can be a huge problem here.

We did it all ourselves and it took about two years to get the new house landscaping done. Couple of beds each spring and fall. (It's a lotta work.) Then we experimented with different plants. At least that what we called it when we lost a plant and had to rethink the appropriateness of the location!!!

Good luck in your new home. Zone 9 is differnet - but it's lots of fun for planting. So many tropic and sub-tropics that can be incorporated.

Sue

Wow! Thanks for the insight!

I am wondering, because Koala mentioned it being drier in Austrailia, if that's the case with Houston too? In Volusia co, (in all FL, for that matter) there is a rainy season. All summer, there is a daily rain of a few inches. This time of year I think there is almost no rain


I found a great site with a forum full of fab gardeners and am already learning how to prop up banana trees and top too tall papayas, lol.

My parrot will love having his own papayas fresh from the garden!

http://www.gardenweb.com/

First, I have to figure out what is there, what should stay, what is healthy and how to take care of it.





No wait, first I gotta clean the pool and make margaritas!

Sounds like a great adventure!

I recall visiting an outdoor nursery in Fla...and all the plants were what we upNorth grow as houseplants indoors! Crotons, philodendrons, dracena, etc.

Absolutely on the priorities - - margaritas then pool then more ritas!! (no pool after second round...lolol)

Re: rain
Have been in Houston area (half way between Houston and Galveston) five summers now. All but his past one have been monsoon -like as Florida is. Great for water bill!! Every afternoon a pop up shower making for happy gardens.

This past summer, however, was drought like (we were down like 17"). I had to water a lot - and really hope this was the odd-ball summer!! Too hot and dry for humans or plants.

The first two winters, I had to cover tender plants maybe four or five nights because temps hit low 30's (for maybe 2 hours, but the tropicals hate that and the begonias go to mush. However the ground never freezes and a lot of plants will resprout.)

The last two winters, I don't think we ever got below 45...so plants were only endangered by bumper crops of hungry bugs.

I highly recommend visiting your county Ag extension office. They were super helpful - had lawn and garden fertilizer and pest protection products and schedules (they had one for organic gardeners and one for chemical) free for the taking. They also were terrific on tips for pruning, etc. Heck they just like to talk to folks and share their knowledge.

Can't wait to hear your progress! It really is a fun adventure.

Oh yeah - one last critical thing. Get yourself a large spray bottle and a big jug of Dawn dishwashing liquid. Use a ration of 1:10 (Dawn to water). Everytime you see a brown spot on a leaf or a bite out of a leaf - - SPRAY. I even have one of those attachments for the hose that I fill up with Dawn and spray everything about once a month. Dawn is biodegradable (they use it to get oil-slicked birds clean), the phosperous in it is like a food for plants, and the bugs and fungus don't like it!! Best yet - super to protect herbs and vege plants. (This tip straight from county AG!!)

Sue

Sue - Thanks!



I heard this yesterday - artificial sweetener kills ants. I'm gonna try that, because we have a big problem with fire ants. Will let ya know.

Really -- I'll try that too! Does it make a difference what kind?

I just 'lost' my small herb garden this fall b/c of fire ants. It was close to house and the fire ants moved in for the winter. I tried everything I could think of to get rid of the ants and not contaminate the herbs. But I had to resort to the chemicals.

I'm super neurotic about food and insecticides so I guess I just 'made' another flower garden!

Sue

They did not say name brands, just "The stuff you put in your coffee or tea, the little pink packets you find at the restaurant."

So probably they meant anything other than Splenda or Truvia.

Sweet n low would be one.